Razor assembly

ABSTRACT

A razor blade holder for a razor blade having at least one cutting edge mounted in a protective casing comprising a combination housing, handle, and head adapted for receiving the blade, the combination comprises a first member having an aperture therein and a second member adapted to join to the first member to form the combination, a blade latching means mounted in said lower member and adapted for engaging the protective casing of the blade, and a one-piece blade releasing means housed in the combination and comprising a button extending through the aperture in the first member and an end for contact with the protective casing when the blade is inserted into the casing and on the opposite end. When the blade is in the holder pressure exerted on the button provides movement to the portion of the blade releasing means that is in contact with the protective casing thereby ejecting the blade from the holder.

United States Patent Bennett et al.

[54] RAZOR ASSEMBLY Primary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz Assistant ExaminerGary L. Smith AttorneyN0rman J. OMalley, Donald R. Castle and William H. McNeill 1 Feb. 29, 1972 [5 7] ABSTRACT A razor blade holder for a razor blade having at least one cutting edge mounted in a protective casing comprising a combination housing, handle, and head adapted for receiving the blade, the combination comprises a first member having an aperture therein and a second member adapted to join to the first member to form the combination, a blade latching means mounted in said lower member and adapted for engaging the protective casing of the blade, and a one-piece blade releasing means housed in the combination and comprising a button extending through the aperture in the first member and an end for contact with the protective casing when the blade is inserted into the casing and on the opposite end. When the blade is in the holder pressure exerted on the button provides movement to the portion of the blade releasing means that is in contact with the protective casing thereby ejecting the blade from the holder.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures I I. I. I. I... .I'I'I'II/ Patented Feb. 29, 1972 3,644,992

4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS.

l JOHN E. BENNETT & l BY RICHARD'CRAIG BRIGGS PRIOR ART 13mm 1?- M ATTO RNE Y Patented Feb. 29, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 29, 1972 3,644,992

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l 98 II V A 9o 74 72 I x F 1 g- 4 57 78 68 54 59 50 II... IIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTORS.

JOHN E. BENNETT" 8:

by RICHARD CRAIG BRIGGS ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 29, 1972' 3,644,992

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 INVENTORS. JOHN E. BENNETT A RICHARD came BRIGGS ATTOE N EY RAZOR ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to razors. More particularly it relates to an improved razor blade holder.

A relatively recent concept in razors and razor blades has beena razor blade that has a cutting edge mounted in a protective casing. The blade is inserted into the holder to provide an assembled razor. The cutting edge and the casing are discarded after the cutting edge .becomes dull and a new blade can be inserted. This concept eliminates the need for ejectors to insert certain type of blades and offers safer handling of the bladeswith their sharp cutting edges.

The razor blade holders previously used, however, had a relatively elaborate latching and releasing assembly containing several parts. It is believed, therefore, a razor blade holder that eliminates and reduces the number of parts and retains the essential functions would be an advancement in the art.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a razor blade holder that has a simplified combination blade latching and releasing assembly.

It is an additional object proved razor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a one-piece blade latching and releasing assembly that operates in conjunction with a razor blade having a cutting edge mounted in a protective casing.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided an improved razor blade holder for a razor blade comprising a combination head for receiving the razor blade, a housing and a handle, the combination comprising a first member having an aperture therein and a second member adapted for joining the first member to form the combination, a blade latching means housed in said combination and having a protrusion extending into said head for engaging the protective casing of the blade and a one-piece blade releasing means housed in said combination comprising a button extending through the aperture in the first member, a movable end extending into the head for contact with the blade when the blade is inserted into the holder and an opposite fixed end inside the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a prior art razor blade holder;

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the razor blade holder of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the assembled holder before inserting the blade;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the assembled holder during insertion of the blade;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the assembled holder after blade is inserted;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the assembled holder during ejection of the blade; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the assembled holder after ejection of the blade.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, advantages, and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following disclosure and appended claims in connection with the above-described drawings.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With particular reference to FIG. 1 wherein an exploded view of a prior art razor blade holder is shown, a first member 10 contains the head 12 for receiving the blade 14, a portion of the handle 16, a housing for the ejector assembly I8 and for the ejector button 20. A second member 22 provides a cover 23 for the handle I6, and retains the blade holding assembly of this invention to provide an im- 24 in a position to enable the protrusion 26 to extend into the head 12 and engage the indentation 28 in the-casing 30 of the blade 14. The blade ejecting assembly 18 comprises a long flexible strip 32 extending essentially the full length of the handle 16. One end 34 of the strip 32 is in contact with the blade and the other end 36 is attached at the lower end of the handle 16. The blade 14 is ejected from the head 12 by depressing the ejector button 20 that has a portion in contact with the strip 32. Movement of the ejector button 20 in a direction inwardly moves the end 34 of the strip 32 causing the blade 14 to rotate the protrusion 26 by the compression of the coil spring 38. After the blade 14 is ejected, the coil spring 38 operates to cause the protrusion 26 to be reinserted into the head 12.

With particular reference to FIG. 2 the first member 40 of the combination housing, head and handle is shown with an aperture 42. One end 44 of the first member in conjunction with end 46 of the second member 48 provides a head for receiving a razor blade 50. The blade-latching means 52 is housed in the second member 48. The blade-latching means 52 has a protrusion 54 for engaging an indentation 56 in the casing 57 of the razor blade 50. Two essentially parallel resilient arms and 90(a) extend from the sides of the protrusion 54 remote from the blade 50. The resilient arms 90 and 90(a) are essentially perpendicular to the protrusion 54 and extend in a direction toward first member 40. Two supporting arms 92 and 92(a) extend in opposing direction and essentially perpendicularly from the sides of arms 90 and 90(a) at the ends remote from the protrusion 54. Supporting arms 92 and 92(a) are adapted to fit into support slots 94 and 94(a) in cradle members 96 and 96(a) in second member 48. Retaining arms 98 and 98(a) extend from the ends of supporting arms 92 and 92(a) remote from and parallel to resilient arms 90 and 90(a). The retaining arms 98 and 98(a) fit into and are held without rotation into retaining slots I00 and (a) in cradle members 96 and 96(a). As can be appreciated a force on protrusion 54 toward resilient arms 90 and 90(a) enables movement of protrusion 54 in the direction toward second member 48. Removal of the force enables protrusion 54 to return to its original position before the application of the force. The one-piece blade-releasing means 58 has a button 59 that fits through the aperture 42 in the first member 40. A fixed end 60 of the blade-releasing means 58 is locked into the second member 48 by inserting an aperture 62 over a lug 64 in the second member 48. A movable end 66 of the blade-releasing means 58 is in contact with the blade 50 when the blade is inserted into the assembled holder.

With particular reference to FIG. 3 where the holder 68 is shown assembled but without the blade, the first member 40 and the second member 48 form a head 70 to receive the blade 50, the housing 72 and the handle 74. The protrusion 54 of the blade-latching means 52 extends into the head 70. Since a cross section of the blade-retaining means and bladelatching means are shown, supporting arm 92 and retaining arm 98 and the corresponding cradle member 96' are shown as dotted lines and in position within the housing.

With particular reference to FIG. 4 where a portion of the assembled holder 68 is shown at the time the blade 50 is being inserted, the blade 50 depresses the protrusion 54 of the latching means 52 to enable the blade 50 to be inserted into the head 70. The resilient arms 90 and 90(a) (not shown) enable the depression of protrusion 54 even though retaining arms 98 (shown as dotted) and 98(a) (not shown) do not move.

With particular reference to FIG. 5 wherein the assembled holder 68 is shown after insertion of the blade 50 having a cutting edge 76 mounted in the casing 57, the protrusion 54 extends outwardly and is seated in the indentation 56in the casing 57 of the blade 50. The blade 50 is held in a rigid position within the head 70 to enable shaving.

The resilient arms 90 and 90(a) (not shown), retaining arms 98 (shown as dotted) and 98(a) (not shown) incooperating with the retaining slots (not shown) in the cradle members 96 and 96(a) (not shown) latch the blade into position.

mu ll With particular reference to FIG. 6 wherein the blade 50 is in the process of being ejected from the assembled holder 68, pressure exerted on the button 59 causes the movable end 66 of blade-releasing means 58 to move against the blade 50. The pressure on the blade 50 and the beveled portion 78 of the blade causes the protrusion 54 of the blade-latching means 52 to move inwardly and allows the blade 50 to be ejected from the head 70. A positioning lug 80 on the blade-releasing means 58 bears against the first member 40 and hold the fixed end 60 in position after the aperture 62 in the blade-releasing means has been fitted over the retaining lug 64 of the second member 48. Since the protrusion 54 of the blade-latching means 52 is movable, a portion of the opposing end does not rotate and the connecting portion is resilient, the blades are inserted, latched and ejected with ease.

With particular reference to FIG. 7 wherein the blade 50 has been ejected from the assembled holder 68, the bladelatching means 52 rotates to its former position with the protrusion 54 extending into the head 70 and is capable of receiving another blade. A stop 82 in the second member 48 prevents excessive travel of the blade-releasing means 58. Upon the release of pressure from the button 59 this enables the blade-releasing means 58 to return to its former position because of the combined factors of a portion which is movable, portions which are resilient and portions which are held without rotating.

with additional reference to FIG. 2 the upper second member 48 is adapted to be joined to the first member 40 by any method. In some instances it is more economical to construct the second member 48, the blade-latching means 52 and the blade-releasing means 58 from moldable plastic materials. The first member 40 can be of an appropriate metal. The second member is joined to the first member by pressure lock means, adhesive applied to surface 84 or by other means such as screws, rivets, and other means known to those skilled in the art. The edges of the second member 48 fit against the first member 40 at one end of the assembled holder thus enabling the two members to be held together by any simple latching mechanism desired. Additionally it is to be noted that although the razor assembly has been described in reference to a blade having a single cutting edge in a protective casing, by minor design change a plurality of cutting edges can be employed in the blade.

While there has been shown and described what is at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the ap' pended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A razor blade holder for a razor blade having at least one cutting edge in a protective casing, said holder comprising a. a combination head, housing and handle, said combination comprising a first member having an aperture therein and a second member adapted to join to said first member to form said combination, said head being adapted for receiving said blade,

b. a blade latching means housed in said combination having a protrusion at one end of said blade-latching means extending into said head for engaging said protective casing of said blade, a noncircular portion of said bladelatching means held in a nonrotatable manner in said combination and a resilient portion of said blade-latching means connecting said protrusion and said noncircular portion, and

c. a one-piece blade-releasing meanshoused in said combination comprising a button extending through the aperture in said first member, a movable end extending into said head for contact with said blade when said blade is inserted into said holder and a fixed end inside said hous- 2. A razor blade holder according to claim 1 wherein said second member has a plurality of edges extending from one end thereof and in engagement with said first member.

3. A blade holder according to claim 1 wherein said protrusion for said blade-latching means engages an indentation in said protective casing of said razor blade.

4. A blade holder according to' claim 3 wherein said bladereleasing means is in contact with said blade at the edge opposite to the cutting edge.

5. A blade holder according to claim 4 wherein said second member has a lug adapted to fit into an aperture in said bladereleasing means at the fixed end of said blade-releasing means.

6. A blade holder according to claim 5 wherein said bladereleasing means has a positioning lug at the fixed end thereof in contact with said first member.

7. A blade holder according to claim 6 wherein said second member has a stop for said blade-releasing means and is in contact with said blade-releasing means when said means is depressed. 

1. A razor blade holder for a razor blaDe having at least one cutting edge in a protective casing, said holder comprising a. a combination head, housing and handle, said combination comprising a first member having an aperture therein and a second member adapted to join to said first member to form said combination, said head being adapted for receiving said blade, b. a blade latching means housed in said combination having a protrusion at one end of said blade-latching means extending into said head for engaging said protective casing of said blade, a noncircular portion of said blade-latching means held in a nonrotatable manner in said combination and a resilient portion of said blade-latching means connecting said protrusion and said noncircular portion, and c. a one-piece blade-releasing means housed in said combination comprising a button extending through the aperture in said first member, a movable end extending into said head for contact with said blade when said blade is inserted into said holder and a fixed end inside said housing.
 2. A razor blade holder according to claim 1 wherein said second member has a plurality of edges extending from one end thereof and in engagement with said first member.
 3. A blade holder according to claim 1 wherein said protrusion for said blade-latching means engages an indentation in said protective casing of said razor blade.
 4. A blade holder according to claim 3 wherein said blade-releasing means is in contact with said blade at the edge opposite to the cutting edge.
 5. A blade holder according to claim 4 wherein said second member has a lug adapted to fit into an aperture in said blade-releasing means at the fixed end of said blade-releasing means.
 6. A blade holder according to claim 5 wherein said blade-releasing means has a positioning lug at the fixed end thereof in contact with said first member.
 7. A blade holder according to claim 6 wherein said second member has a stop for said blade-releasing means and is in contact with said blade-releasing means when said means is depressed. 